Humanoids from the Deep

Humanoids from the Deep are spotted again in the vicinity of Noyo Harbor.


What are Humanoids from the Deep?  They are mutants that are half man and half fish. Modern day Humanoids have evolved somewhat from the ones shown in the 1980 film - Humanoids from the Deep.

This one is seen regularly in the Noyo Harbor surfing Chicken Point while others seem to be migratory.

Photo by Bryant Burkhardt

Group sightings tend to increase annually after the Golden Gate Sea Kayak Symposium.  It is suspected that these are some of the sea kayak coaches.  Here's a video of them -

It is rumored that a woman on water travels with them.

What do you call a group of Humanoids?  Pod, drove, tribe, pack, swarm band?

Cate's Kale Soup

Winter time is upon us and friends are dropping like flies with colds and the dreaded flu.  There are lots of good articles online about how to boost your immune system and prevent getting ill.  Two of my favorite ways to boost the immune system are eating healthy and getting lots of fresh air.  Fortunately on the Mendocino Coast, our winters are mild enough that we can venture outdoors on various adventures, and we have good quality food readily available in the winter in our own winter gardens, farmers markets, grocery stores, in the forest and in the sea. 

My kale soup recipe combines healthy foods as well as a way to get outside for some fresh air.  You won't find specific amounts in most of my recipes as I just throw things together in the proportions that I have available or am in the mood for.  Here's my Kale Soup Recipe.  Please let me know if you like it or have suggestions.

Cate's Kale Soup
Ingredients:
Skinless/Boneless Chicken Thighs (optional)
Canned Tomatoes
Onion
Garlic
Carrots
Kale
Hedgehog Mushrooms - hydnum repandum (optional)
Seasonings - aleppo pepper, chili powder, black pepper (my preference)
Olive Oil
Butter (optional)

GET OUTSIDE!!! - gather the ingredients - For us involves a journey out into the forest to pick mushrooms and a little gardening work in the backyard to weed the garden and pick the kale.  No garden/local mushroom patches?  Go for a walk outside!  Perhaps walk to the grocery store.

Mushrooms - Hedgehogs are my favorite mushroom for the soup.  I like the consistency and flavor of them in the soup.  I would think that chanterelles would be good as well.  If you don't know wild mushrooms, you experiment with various store bought mushrooms and let me know what works well.  If picking wild mushrooms, please be 110% certain of your identification.  When in doubt, throw it out!!!


Make the Soup
Boil the chicken thighs and keep the broth for the base of the soup.  If you are not using chicken, use a base or broth that you prefer.

Cook on low - broth, canned tomatoes, garlic cloves, and carrots.

Sautee onions in a little butter or olive oil and add to soup.

Dry sautee hedgehog mushrooms in butter (you may substitute oil).  Cook moisture out of the mushrooms. Then add them to the soup.


Wash kale, separate it from its fibrous stalk, massage it with a touch of olive oil.  Add it to the soup.

Add seasonings to soup.

Bring the soup to a boil then cook on reduced heat for 5-10 minutes.

Options - you can make the soup as brothy as you like.  You might also try making it with sausage instead of chicken.  Experiment and ENJOY this healthy, immune building soup!!!

Please share any thoughts or suggestions.

Whitewater Christmas

Merry Christmas to all my friends and followers!!!  Looks like more snow and whitewater are on our way.  Thanks Santa!!!

 Best wishes to all for a happy holiday!!!

Gear Picks for 2012

Yep, this old school girl tried out some new boats and gear this year.  Here are my top gear picks for 2012 and a few thoughts on some of my tried and true favorites.

Sterling Reflection (1" cut) Sea Kayak - Lightweight and highly maneuverable the Sterling Reflection is my top pick for a playful sea kayak.  It is stable yet very responsive, durable yet lightweight, and even better yet custom built in the US.  The Reflection is 15 feet but handles like a whitewater kayak.  Sterling Donaldson, the builder of the Reflection continues to develop his boats to be tough and lightweight.  We were impressed with the latest version that we paddled this fall.  It held up to a few hits that would have broken other boats.  One also has to appreciate that Sterling Kayaks are custom made in the United States.


Saltwood Paddle - I grabbed Jeff's for a private lesson that I was teaching and fell in love with it.  I love the balance of the blades.  They have a very smooth entry and a good balance of power and comfort.  The wooden shaft has a lively feel and the small shaft fits my hands perfectly.  After snatching Jeff's every chance that I had, I finally got my own this fall.  We have lengths appropriate for sea kayaking and rock gardening.  I hope to try a shorter one in my whitewater and surf kayak.

 

Keen Gorge Boots - The best paddling boot that I have found so far.  These boots are comfortable, supportive, and durable.  What I like best about them is their rugged, supportive sole.  This makes a huge difference when carrying to the put in or take out, scouting, portaging, or scrambling on rocks or up slot canyons.  I feel that they offer good protection from rocky terrain and excellent traction even on slippery surfaces.  I could almost make these my everyday hiking shoes.  Rarely do a pair of booties last me a year and these are still going strong after a lot of use.  My only wish is that they would make the top of the boots able to cinch tighter at the ankle to keep cold water, gravel, and sand from getting in over the top of the boots.

The Bomb Drytop by Bomber Gear - Its DRY.  I like the long inner tunnel.  The lightweight material and length of the inner tunnel make it a perfect match with my Kokatat Bibs.  Bomber uses the best latex gaskets that we have found in terms of durability and fit.  I tend to like bright colors for visibility when guiding but got the black for winter boating warmth.  I don't know if it is the black or the material, but this top is way warmer than others tops that I've used.  I'm impressed with the build quality of the Bomber drytop.  The seams are all taped and there are no loose threads or unfinished edges.  I've had the top less than a month so we will see how it wears over time but so far I am sooooo happy that I have this for our winter boating season.

Custom Neoprene Gaskets - Last year Jeff started making neoprene gaskets for our drytops and drysuits.  They are so much warmer, more comfortable, and more durable than latex gaskets.  Of course knowing that they are custom made with love adds to the warmth value.

 
Not new but here are a few of my tried and true favorites:

NRS Ultra Jane -  As we do more swimming and coasteering in our ocean rock gardening adventures, I have become a wetsuit fan for comfort and protection.  I like the NRS Ultra Jane for all day comfort. The relief zip is perfect and allows me to modestly pee without peeing in my suit or having to take my suit off.  I have had this wetsuit for 5 years and it is showing some wear but still works great.


 Eskimo Diablo (built in 2000) - This is your load on Sunday and paddle all week whitewater kayak.  The German plastic is solid - so solid that they didn't build these boats with center pillars.  This means lots of room to store gear.  The narrow build and lower deck of the older Eskimo kayaks are great for us smaller paddlers and very easy to roll.  The outfitting is simple and sparse by newer whitewater kayak standards but is comfortable.  I paddled our Eskimo Diablo on our 2011 Eel River Expedition and on our 2012 Grand Canyon Trip.  Where shall we take her in 2013?

Necky Jive - I started in a Jive and continue to try other boats but come back to it for ocean surfing and rock gardening.  It definitely isn't perfect.  My biggest issue with the Jive is that it is HEAVY.  I like the low deck of the Jive and its planing hull and edges (almost rails) for surfing.  I find the Jive easy to roll and FUN to surf.


Werner Sherpa Paddle - tried and true.  This thing has lasted me 5 years of use and abuse.  Throwing it in the truck now for a surf.

My personal gear forecast for 2013 coming soon.